Drew: Since you'd rather not waste your breathe on this subject anymore but I'm still going to state my opinion. First of all, you were the one pressing Skyler to name sources (as you need validation) and when I did list you two names who publicly voiced their opinions that discredited Ocearch, you said that it doesn't interest you anymore. From what I know, there are scientists who truly care for sharks and are using less invasive methods for tracking sharks. These scientists do not go around portraying themselves to be sharkmen on TV/media but are doing their jobs as scientist should do. What you didn't know doesn't mean it doesn't exist. I'll save my breathe on this one.

The shark safe barrier IMO is a better barrier system to protect both marine life and people. At least that is better than shark nets used previously.

You have hit the nail on the greatest thread to shark species, which is the removal by shark-finning. Ocearch was the one stating that 200K sharks are finned each day and they must have agreed to that one too (I have print-shot of my conversation with them on their page which they probably have removed, I'm not sure). These sharks that were taken from places like Cocos, Galapagos and Sea Of Cortez etc. are mainly the smaller schooling shark species. The Great White shark is usually solitary so why would tagging a few helps. I have asked them this question but it was left unanswered. You should be persuading the scientists who you know have worked or are still working with Ocearch to join effort with you in tackling this issue and probably request funding from Ocearch. That will be killing two birds with one stone. IMHO.

Seriously, do you think these guys are doing any good to the sharks? I recently started a conversation on their Facebook page. They claimed that they execute 12 different research projects on each shark using SPOT tag which is known to cause damage to the dorsal fins of the tagged sharks. Also, the trauma that the shark has to go through during the tagging process is unbelievably cruel.

When I question them on their inhumane method, they emphasized that they are helping the sharks and said that sharks do shed the tags and the fins heal in time. Haven't they really not seen a damaged dorsal fin caused by their method? They also mentioned that 200K sharks are finned each day and they must pioneer research as fas as they can to find breeding sites, nurseries and migratory paths etc. so they can protect them.

I further question them if they also think that shark finning is the biggest thread, why not spend the money on more beneficial projects like educating the fishermen etc. .

Frankly, I don't undestand why tagging will help. Wouldn't tagging the sharks and tracking them (if their data is correct and sharing it so publicly) make the sharks more vunerable? Now, the crafty fishermen can track and fish them easily and destroy whatever breeding grounds that these guys found and wept them out completely?